Reality TV has become a normal part of the American evening in front of the television set. This started with a bang with the release of shows such as Survivor and American Idol. There also was a sensation when shows tried to break into daily life by having spouses trade families for a set period of time, putting several strangers into a house together and shows that held a challenge for the participants. Some of these included The Apprentice, Big Brother and The Great Race. These have held the viewer’s fascination as they watch to see who will be kicked off the show and who will be left at the end.
Channels such as Discovery and The Learning Channel have done spin offs of their own with shows such as Ax Men, Ice Road Truckers and Top Chef. There are even shows that deal with makeovers, take people into various types of dirty jobs and help a participant to know what to wear. These have become extremely popular with viewers and have brought new interests to the fore front. The fascinating aspect of these shows is that they focus on real life people instead of throwing people into a contrived situation and seeing how they react.
One of the most positive reality shows that has come out has been Extreme Home Makeover on ABC, which has a team coming in with a large group of volunteers to literally remake homes for those that need them the most. Families who have had deep financial problems, chronic illness issues or have been affected by natural disasters have benefited from the show. It has also been very popular with viewers. The reality TV sensation has taken an interesting turn in the last few years and continues to be a strong presence in the entertainment industry.